RAMAN-MAHANADI2LST(BES40

"As per the agreement between the then Chief Minister Arjun Singh of undivided Madhya Pradesh and the then Odisha Chief Minister J B Patnaik, a joint Control Board had to be constituted. It was not done so far. The Board was meant to survey, investigate and execute the project. If Odisha CM Navin Patnaik felt anyproblem, he could have sent a proposalfor the constitution ofBoard," Singh stated.

He said Chhattisgarh contributes 86 per cent of water into Mahanadi up to Hirakud dam, but utilises only 25 % of the water.

"It is pertinent to note that State is using much less than its legitimate share of water of Mahanadi basin," the CM said.

It is not adversely affecting the share of Odisha and Hirakud Dam, he added.

"Odisha CM Patnaik never raised these issues with Chhattisgarh. The concerns are politically motivated and not based on facts and figures. The inter-state sharing of water is a sensitive issue and should not be used for political gains," the statement said. PTI TKP NSK RCJ JMF

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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